Category: Eclectic Homes

Fluffy pastries and delectable cookies could be the very first things that come into mind when you consider baking soda, but this ingredient is far more than the usual baking staple. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a potent cleanser which should be a mainstay in your kitchen pantry and cleaning toolbox. This cheap, natural fixing is neck and neck using vinegar as one of the most nontoxic and versatile family cleaning agents.

Meg Padgett

Ready to begin cleaning? All you need is 1/4 cup of baking soda dissolved to 1 quart of warm water to handle many household cleaning chores.

Rethink Design Studio

Bedroom, living room and hallway:

• Before you vacuum the carpeting or wash your upholstery, scatter them with baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes to get rid of any odors.
• Deodorize your cupboard by placing an opened box of baking soda on a shelf.
• Clean children’s toys with the aforementioned basic mix along with a sponge. Rinse and let them dry.
• Deodorize stuffed animals using a light dusting of baking soda; let it sit 15 minutes, then dust or vacuum off it.
• Freshen shoes with a light dusting of baking soda on the inner soles.

Sealy Design Inc..

Kitchen :
Utilize the fundamental mix along with a sponge to wash all kitchen surfaces.
Rid your fridge or pantry of odors by placing an opened box of baking soda on a back shelf.
Dust your stainless steel sink with baking soda and scrub for a sparkling glow.
Deodorize trash cans and recycling bins using a sprinkling of baking soda on the interior of the cans. Every now and then, rinse the cans with 1 cup of baking soda dissolved into 1 gallon of warm water.
Make your silver sparkling using a paste made from 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water.
For stubborn stains on plastic storage containers, then soak for 15 minutes in 4 parts baking soda and 1 part warm water. Scrub, rinse and dry.
Rid your fruits and vegetables of dirt and insecticides by washing them into a sink full of water and also 1/4 cup of baking soda, then rinse.
Remove baked-on residue on pots and pans by sprinkling on baking soda. Add warm water and dish soap, let boil for 15 minutes and wash clean.
Extinguish small cooking fires by sprinkling baking soda directly onto the fire.

Laundry:

• Brighten your laundry by adding 1 cup of baking soda to the wash.
• For extra-fluffy sheets and towels, add 1/2 cup of baking soda into the rinse cycle.
• Banish stains using a paste made from 6 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/2 cup of warm water. Apply to the stain, rub and launder. For the toughest stains, allow the glue sit for one or two hours. (Always check for color fastness.)
• Freshen babies’burp cloths by sprinkling on baking soda, massaging in and washing as normal.

Chronicle Books

Bathroom:

• Clean floors with a bucket of warm water along with 1/2 cup of baking soda.
• Utilize the fundamental mix to wash your toilet surfaces or scatter dry baking soda on tough-to-clean stains.
• Clean hairbrushes and combs once a month by soaking them in warm water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
• Deodorize and wash the toilet with a sprinkling of baking soda on the interior of the bowl; flush and wash.
• For rust stains from the shower, bath or sink bowl, then pour in 1 cup of vinegar plus 1/2 cup of baking soda. Scrub and rinse.

Crisp Architects

Outdoors:Before storing your patio furniture to the winter, wash it using baking soda and a moist sponge.
Sterile dirt and mildew off pool toys with the basic mix.
Blast grease and oil stains from the garage or driveway by pouring baking soda directly on them. Scrub with a moist brush and rinse.
Battle icy walkways with a sprinkling of baking soda. Have some other cleaning uses for baking soda? Share your hints in the Remarks section below.

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Small engines need maintenance to keep them functioning secure and well. The muffler on a Poulan chainsaw includes a spark arresting screen to keep sparks from leaving the muffler when contacting debris or wood chips, and causing a fire hazard. Carbon deposits build up on the muffler and spark arresting screen, and require cleaning to maintain airflow. Elimination of the muffler requires a minimal number of tools.

Release the trigger on your Poulan chainsaw. Slide the”On/Stop” button on the rear of the motor to the”Stop” position. Place the chainsaw and let it cool completely before doing muffler maintenance.

Insert a Phillips screwdriver into the three screws in the cylinder cover, turn them and remove them. Pull the cover. The muffler is revealed at the front of the engine near the hand guard. Eliminate spark plug boot from the plug on the leading of the engine.

Remove on the front of the muffler with an adjustable wrench. Pull the bolt the muffler. Eliminate the two muffler bolts with an adjustable wrench. Yank on the gasket, muffler and metal rear plate directly away and forward.

Place the muffler on a flat surface with the face down. Remove which are on the outlet cover pointing upward with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the socket cover and spark arresting screen from the muffler.

Clean the spark arresting screen with a wire brush. Inspect the screen, gasket, muffler, and substitute them with brand new components they’re broken or if you can find cracks.

Replace socket cover and the spark arresting screen insert the two screws and tighten them . Place the plate on muffler, then the gasket and the motor front and tighten the two bolts with an adjustable wrench. Replace the bolt and tighten the locknut. Replace the spark plug boot, top cover and tighten the three screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

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Glass-door kitchen cabinets are a eye-appealing and lavish attribute in a room layout, but continual use can get noisy. Every single closing of these cabinets can be loud, inducing dishes to rattle and vibrate against each other since both the glass surface of the wood surface of the cabinet and this door are strong. Install self-adhesive felt, if you want to protect your dishes and cut back kitchen cabinet noise or rubber tabs on cabinetry in your kitchen.

Clean the cabinet’s frame. Put a few drops of alcohol on a soft cloth and wipe the framework. Use mild detergent and warm water to wash the surface, eliminating dirt, dust and greasy residue if you do not have denatured alcohol. The inside of the glass door with glass cleaner and wipe with a paper towel.

Close to the glass door where the inside cabinet framework rolls , usually at the bottom and top corners of the cabinet and observe. You may need to stand beside the cabinet and look from a angle where the two meet, to observe at the door. Mark the contact point of the cabinet corners using a pen or chalk. Do not mark on the glass. If you can not differentiate exactly where the door and cabinet touch, use the centerpoint of each corner as your contact point.

Remove the tape onto the rubber or felt tabs. These can be obtained at discount store, your regional hardware store or craft shop and are roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Opt for a shade that matches the colour of your kitchen cabinets. Press the side of the rubber or felt tab against the pen or chalk marking on each cabinet corner. Use light pressure to make certain that the tabs adhere to the cabinet.

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Tiled shower flooring are visually appealing as well as hygienic. Tile flooring do not require as much cleaning and care as ceramic or ceramic pans and are also more resistant to the growth of mould and bacteria. Installing a tile floor is not so difficult and will only require one weekend to complete. Considering that the shower is a potentially hazardous area it is recommended to use only ceramic, glazed, or tiles specifically created for high moisture areas.

Use the level to check the entire concrete slab for any unlevel places. Fill in any low spots with leveling compound and abandon the compound to cure for 24 hours. Grind down high spots using a rounding stone. Sweep debris away from the concrete slab and wash the region with water. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Cut the membrane 18 to 24 inches wider and longer than the shower floor. Set in place and indicate the position of the drain hole. Cut out the hole for the drain.

Place the membrane back to the concrete slab, stretching the hole around the drain. Secure the membrane. The membrane should extend up the wall 9 to 12 inches on each side. Tuck the corners into the openings between the wall studs to lessen the bulk in the corners.

Tape around the borders of the watertight membrane with waterproof tape to fill out the seal and hold the membrane in place.

Pour a layer of mortar over top of this shower membrane and shape down the incline to the drain hole. Typical incline for a shower flooring is 1/8 to 3/16 inch per foot throughout. Leave the mortar to heal.

Mark a chalk line throughout the center of the floor in a north-south direction plus another line throughout the center within an east-west direction. This will form a large plus sign that meets at the exact centre of the shower. The lines will be your guide for setting the tile.

Lay a set of tiles along the lines without adhesive to dry match a row. Shift the tiles as needed to reduce the number of tiles that need to be trimmed for the borders of the wall.

Pick up the tile nearest the center of the floor and spread adhesive using the trowel above the bare floor. Use the notched edge of the trowel.

Press the tile back into place touching both lines. Twist the tile lightly forward 1/4-inch then back into place to create a bond with the adhesive. Continue setting tiles in this way along one line until you have completed a single row.

Decide on another row of tiles in precisely the exact same method. Clean away any oozing adhesive on the surface of the tiles as you go. Set the tile leveler in addition to the tiles and tap with the mallet to place the tiles in place.

Continue lying rows of tiles and setting each other row until all the full-sized tiles have been placed. Leave the space round the drain available for now.

Measure the openings between the last full-size tile on every row and the wall. Use the tile cutter to reduce leftover tiles to match in the openings. Lay the tile pieces in precisely the exact same fashion as the complete size tiles and tap with the mallet and leveler to place. Leave the floor to heal in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s directions.

Draw a template for the tiles to go round the drain hole using a bit of paper. Place the paper over the drain and draw round the drain and summarize the borders of the tiles already set. Divide the region between the drain and the tiles into four pieces and cut the tiles to match. Use the round file to smooth the edges. Set the tiles in place.

Mix the grout a thick paste and use the rubber float to package it into the gaps between the tiles. Wipe away any grout on the face of the tiles as you go. Shape the grooves in the grout by dragging the grout line using a toothbrush. Leave the grout to sit down for 20 minutes.

Use a damp sponge to wipe away any excess grout to smooth rough edges. Leave the grout to cure in accordance with manufacturer’s directions.

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According to Insure.com, water damage is among the most common causes of homeowners’ insurance claims–and also one of the largest sources of confusion. If a flooding river inundates your own house, your insurance is unlikely to cover the damage. But if the flooding comes from inside the house itself, the result of a burst pipe, you can breathe easier: Your coverage probably will cover the damage.

Coverage

In general, water damage from a burst pipe inside your house will be covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance coverage. Whether an outside pipe bursts and causes damage, that ought to be coated, too, though you must have the ability to demonstrate the damage did indeed come from the burst pipe. In the event the insurer concludes that poor drainage–a non-covered maintenance problem–has been the real culprit, your claim could be denied.

Limitations

Your water-damage claim also might be denied if your insurer concludes that you are accountable for the pipe bursting in the first location. Most pipes that burst do so because they freeze. If you abandon your house during freezing weather, your insurer can cite your negligence as a cause of denying your claim. Even if your insurer does pay for the water damage, it may refuse to pay to fix the pipe . Insurance does not cover ordinary wear and tear on a house. If the pipe burst simply because it was old and corroded, or because it was attached to an appliance that malfunctioned, that might count as ordinary tear and wear.

Reporting

Connecticut insurance adjuster Allan Sabel, in an interview with Insure.com, warns that the way you report a water-damage claim to your insurer can make a difference. Do not use the word”flooding” under any conditions, ” he advises. Insurers have a specific definition of flooding –and floods are not covered. Utilizing the word in a casual circumstance when creating a call for your broker can cause you trouble later.

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When you’re purchasing real estate, a real estate note is generally involved. A real estate note or promissory note is a promise to pay a particular sum of money to get a set time to obtain a bit of property. It essentially is a contract between the creditor and borrower to get a property transaction. These notes are also used when sellers provide seller financing to your buyer.

Identification

A real estate note is a legally binding agreement between a buyer and the lender. It is a promise to pay back a loan with specific terms. The terms include the sum of the debt, so the period you need to repay the debt, which is a series of payments or on demand, and the rate of interest. The holder of this note is the party that receives payment. The maker is the individual that promises to repay the debt.

Characteristics

A property note identifies the parties involved in this agreement. In addition, the note details the terms of the agreement. The note specifies the monthly payment, term of the loan, buy price, maturity date and rate of interest. Additionally, it spells out additional provisions of this agreement that include impacts of default. The note also includes the collateral used as security for the note and the signatures of those parties who have entered into the agreement.

Note Generation

Sellers appearing to supply financing to prospective buyers may have a real estate note created for the transaction. Place the note up correctly so that you can sell the note in the open market, if necessary. To begin with, get between a 5 and 10 percent down payment. Only enter into an agreement with a buyer with a FICO score of at least 625, so the note is significantly more secure. Also, be certain that the rate of interest on the note is comparable to what lending institutions are charging. Finally, the term of this note must be as brief as possible. The term someplace between 10 and 15 years is more preferable.

Investment

Real estate notes are all investments that both institutional and private investors will buy. These notes are usually bought at a discount, so purchasing the note at an amount less than the current balance of this note to cancel the buyer’s risk and meet investment yield requirements. The discount on the note is dependent on the charge of the debtor and the amount of equity in the property. A property note that has a buyer with a better credit profile and more equity in the property is more valuable.

Considerations

If you want to offer seller financing, it’s necessary to have your property note drawn up by a property attorney. Even though the note looks relatively straightforward, any wrong wording in the note could radically alter the expressions and your legal rights. It is likewise essential that the real estate note meet any state and federal laws that govern note creation. Additionally, prior to obligating yourself to land using a property note, make sure you completely understand the terms of the note. It is important that you can satisfy the terms because the effects of default are generally an acceleration of the debt and another loss of land.

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Urban sprawl is loosely defined as low-density residential, and sometimes commercial, development that is outside the borders of higher density urban centers. Urban sprawl communities are usually automobile-oriented as opposed to pedestrian-friendly. Planners, scholars, community activists and public officials all offer numerous possibilities as to the causes of urban sprawl.

Lack of Comprehensive Planning

The Planners Web Sprawl Guide suggests that small to no regional planning is one of the major causes of urban sprawl. If authorities in densely populated urban centers plan in isolation without consulting local communities, the end result is sometimes poorly planned developments on the outskirts of urban centers. Rather than bridging the present infrastructure and amenities of surrounding communities, these less densely populated areas often incur new people expenditures for infrastructure enhancements without regard to a regional plan or pooled resources. A regional plan would anticipate the increase of new areas and slowly execute the necessary planning initiatives to make a cohesive neighborhood.

Quick Population Growth

The Sierra Club notes that although population growth is only one cause of urban sprawl, it’s a major element. Rapid population growth is an especially large contributor to urban sprawl in the Western and Southern areas of the United States. A sharp increase in residents beyond the potential of nearby urban centers necessitates the introduction of new communities. As the regional population continues to increase, communities start to spread further and further away from town centers.

Subsidized Infrastructure Improvements

1 condition that encourages urban sprawl, in accordance with Towson University Center for Geographic Information Sciences, occurs when municipalities subsidize the cost of infrastructure such as streets and sewers to un- or under-developed places. Such an action incentivizes the production of communities out city centers without needing comprehensive plans or suggesting alternative development options.

Client Preferences

1 cause of urban sprawl that is hard to quantify is taste. Useful Community Development, a site dedicated to progressive urban planning, cites the desire for larger houses, more bedrooms and bigger lawns as among the causes of urban sprawl. Some people just prefer more space or more house square footage than what’s available or affordable in more crowded town centers.

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Purchasing a fixer-upper and enhancing it can build immediate equity in a home. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have programs in place to loan buyers money to repair the home up without having to access an advance loan and a home mortgage through conventional means, a complex and expensive procedure.

Factors

Selecting a mortgage for any home may be one of the most critical facets of purchasing a home. When looking at a fixer-upper, some creditors won’t even consider lending on the home since it might not be up to underwriting criteria. Under conventional funding, buyers would have to receive two loans on the property, one for rehabilitating it along with the other to function as the permanent mortgage. The rates of interest on these loans may be high, maintaining some households or people from purchasing a fixer-upper. But, FHA and HUD have started up loan programs for people to use to fix up a home, whether it's detached or connected. The agencies operate with private lenders and, upon loan approval, will fund an escrow account for the rehabilitation of the home and ensure the home mortgage.

HUD and FHA Programs

The FHA is part of HUD; it insures loans created by private lenders for homes across the U.S. that fall under particular price ceilings. In the San Francisco Bay region, the mortgage for a single-family home is $729,750. Under the FHA guidelines, buyers may borrow money under the 203(k) loan program which will enable them to use the funds to fix up a home before they take ownership of it, instead of generating two loans, one for purchase and the other for improvements.

What&amp#039;s Involved

Two assessments function as the basis for your own mortgage and repair fund. The initial appraisal is for the home as is; the second appraisal is filed after the purchaser has decided the cost of repairs. The appraiser takes into account the improvements that will be made to the home; the FHA mortgage and the amount put to the 203(k) escrow fund will be based on the last appraisal.

Kinds of Improvements

Not one of the 203(k) funds may be used for luxury items in the home. Improvements can be made to enhance the energy-efficiency of a home, painting, flooring, additions, as well as decks. Energy conservation and repairs regarding the health and security of the occupants have priority among all the improvements the 203(k) program funds.

Kinds of Homes Covered

Both detached houses and condo units are eligible for the 203(k) program. In the instance of a condominium, the funds have to be used exclusively to fix up the interior of the unit. Exterior care is part of the condominium association's duty. A condominium eligible for the 203(k) must be on the record of FHA's approved condominium projects, which involves a separate procedure that the condominium association or the first developer or builder of the project must initiate. All foreclosed houses which fall beneath the mortgage limit to the FHA insurance plan in the purchaser 's region are eligible for the 203(k) funds. People who pay cash for a home can also apply for 203(k) funds to fix up the home or enhance its energy-efficiency around six months after obtaining it.

What&amp#039;s Required

Applicants to the 203(k) funding need to submit a site plan of the home, an interior drawing along with the estimates and bids for fixing it up. The bids can be made by architects or contractors. In the event the homeowner plans to perform the job herself, the bid should include an allocation for labour for that action, just in case he is unable to perform the job. Besides the application for funding, a report on the current state of the home needs to include its condition with regard to security, termites and other issues, the status of the roof and the heating and cooling .

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When you sell your residence, you want to earn the best price for this. Throughout a buyers’ market, if sales are down and buyers need price concessions and other compromises out of sellers, this is sometimes a challenging task. You’ll increase your odds of landing the best possible cost, however, by following a few easy residential real estate guidelines. Sellers who dismiss those strategies run the possibility of selling their houses for much less than fair market value.

Establish the ideal price for your house after exploring comparable home sales. Just because you’d prefer to sell your four-bedroom ranch house for $250,000 doesn’t mean that buyers will be willing to pay that cost. This is particularly true if another four-bedroom ranches in your neighborhood have sold for $215,000. Establish rsquo & your house;s sales cost with your head, not your heart. Buyers don’t care what you paid for your house five decades ago. They just care that they can find a similar house for $50,000 less two blocks off.

Boost your home’s curb appeal. Many buyers won’t even seem at your home if its front yard is bare or unkempt. And if a few buyers are passing by without quitting, your probability of getting a reasonable market value price to your residence will plummet. Add a few flowers, shrubs and elegant lawn furniture to your front yard. Pick up all trash. Squeeze away dead leaves and pull weeds. You’ll get showings in case you’re doing.

Stage your house so that it looks its very best. This entails placing furniture so that rooms look as broad as possible. It also entails removing oversize or additional sofas, chairs or tables to create a house appear larger. If you stage your house, you’ll use artwork and floral structures to give it a warm feeling. You can stage your house on your own or hire an expert to do the task for you. This can be worth the cost and effort: You’ll attract more buyers in case your house looks larger, spacious and brighter.

Leave when possible buyers are touring your house. Buyers are often intimidated when they see houses where the owners are onsite. They don’t even feel comfy looking intently at cabinets, bathtubs and storage places, and they most definitely feel uncomfortable asking the difficult questions of the real estate agents. By hanging around throughout showings, you could chase off prospective buyers, again reducing your odds of nabbing a reasonable market value cost.

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There are a whole lot of aspects to consider when picking a material for the bathroom floor: cost, aesthetic, setup, maintenance, sustainability and much more. Cork is an material option for toilets. Even though it’s often used because of its natural mildew resistance, there are various opinions about its capacity to stand up to a wet environment. Here you’ll learn all about the pros, cons and price variables of cork flooring, to help you determine whether it is a fantastic fit for your toilet. Could this sleek, environmentally friendly material work for you?

Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer

The basics: famous for its sustainability and relaxation, cork could be set up as a click-together floating flooring or as glue-down tiles. Both types are available in many different colors and patterns.

AJ Minite of Siena Flooring Designs enjoys using cork in the bathroom. “For toilet setups either click system or glue-down cork flooring is acceptable,” Minite says. “Our cork comes prefinished with three coats of water-based polyurethane, but for bathrooms we would recommend adding two coats after setup and also a bead of silicone around the perimeter to keep out excess water.”

Cost: Cork flooring ranges in cost from $3 to $12 per square foot on average. While installation could be a DIY project for those who have home improvement DIY experience, a professional setup can help seal up all the prospective seams and cracks round bathtubs, vanities and bathrooms. Professional setup can add about $3 to $5 per square foot.

Susan Corry Design

Benefits: Cork is full of air cells that make it naturally soft underfoot, so it is great for bare feet. Additionally, it is naturally resistant to moisture, mold, mildew and bacteria, and won’t feel cold (such as tile) underfoot. Despite its soft texture, it can be as durable as hardwood when finished correctly.

Cons: make certain your cork was approved to be used in a high-moisture space, and confirm all the intricacies of this warranty with your producer. Have your installer seal the cork with a low-VOC finish to ensure that no water can seep through seams or cracks.

Cork is water resistant but not waterproof. It functions well in toilets but can suffer damage when subjected to standing water for a long time. Cork floors can plump, warp and distort if water warms a seam.

Golden Rule Creative Remodel

Environmental effect: Cork flooring requires the gold. Made from the bark of the cork oak tree, it can be safely harvested approximately every 10 years without damaging the tree. Additionally, the cork develops back over time. Cork is also an superb option for a home environment, because it is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, biodegradable and recyclable. Cork has excellent insulation properties too, ensuring minimal heat loss.

SD Austin LLC

Maintenance: Consider laying down a tub mat near your tub and shower to soak up any potential standing water after a shower or bath. Regular cleaning should take care of everyday maintenance. Normally, bamboo flooring includes a polyurethane topcoat that protects it from minor spills and wear and tear. This poly finish has to be reapplied every couple of years to guarantee that the flooring will remain impervious to moisture.

The Home Depot

Natural Plank Cork Flooring – $43.46

Are you a fan of bamboo floors in the bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

More: Discover the Unstoppable Benefits of Cork in the House

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